NECC 2026 Sunday Evening Dana Congdon
Dana presents three charges that call believers and assemblies to participate in Christ’s kingdom work. In Matthew 28, Jesus’ authority undergirds the global commission to make disciples, baptize, and teach obedience. Though especially entrusted to apostles and those sent out, it also applies locally as assemblies disciple new believers. Dana urges broad, compassionate prayer for worldwide gospel work and support for workers, while emphasizing that evangelism must be joined to sound, loving church life. Converts need a local fellowship where they can be nurtured and strengthened; otherwise, many may drift away.
In Acts 1, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit’s power so his disciples can witness to his resurrection, from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. The Spirit is both empowering wind and guiding breath: believers must depend on his leading, not merely follow methods. Dana encourages each Christian to recognize opportunities nearby, since others may already have prepared the way and people may be more ready to hear than expected. Assemblies should pray for and support those with evangelistic gifts.
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul charges Timothy to preach the word faithfully despite opposition and resistance to sound teaching. Dana applies this urgency to the church today: assemblies must gather wandering or harassed believers, proclaim the gospel to the lost, and help make Christ’s bride ready. This requires endurance, holiness, unity, and compassion. Across all three charges, believers are called to deny themselves, bear the cross, and serve through the Spirit. As the Lord’s life and compassion work within them, their witness can strengthen the church and bring people to Christ.
Outline
The global charge — Matthew 28
Make disciples among all nations through baptism and teaching.
Pray for gospel workers and nurture converts in local assemblies.
The Spirit-empowered charge — Acts 1
Receive the Holy Spirit’s power to witness to Jesus.
Follow his guidance and support believers’ evangelistic service.
The urgent church charge — 2 Timothy 4
Preach the word faithfully amid opposition.
Gather wandering believers and reach the lost with compassion.
The shared response: Deny self, bear the cross, and serve through the Spirit.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
